Villiger La Flor de Ynclan Robusto

Villiger Sons Limited was founded by Jean Villiger in 1888 in the small Swiss town of Pfeffikon, where their headquarters remain to this day – we think it’s safe to say that after 130 years they know a few things about crafting high-quality cigars. Back in 2007, Villiger released the La Flor de Ynclan with limited fanfare and limited success, and it was eventually discontinued. Villiger knew they were on to something so they enlisted the skills of master blender José Matias Maragoto and headed back to the drawing board. After reblending, repacking, and reimagining the whole cigar, Villiger re-released the cigar last year, and boy what a difference a decade makes! Hailing from the Dominican Republic, this stunning cigar features a bevy of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers with an Indonesian binder and a striking golden-brown Ecuadoran Habano wrapper. From start to nub expect complex and balanced flavors of floral and citrus notes followed by hints of cedar, sharp white pepper, and hints of cream to balance out the hot spice. This smoke was also awarded a 93 rating from Cigar Aficionado as well as being rated as the #10 cigar in their Top 25 Cigars of 2017! Our panel also loved it and recommended trying it with your favorite IPA.

Though tobacco is indigenous to Hispaniola, the tobacco industry in the Dominican Republic existed in the shadow of Cuba’s dominance through the 1960s. When the exodus of Cuban cigar makers began in the wake of the revolution, many decided the Dominican Republic would be ideal for the resumption of their livelihoods. Unrest in Nicaragua in the 1980s fueled the Dominican cigar industry further. The country now makes more than half of the premium cigars imported into the U.S.

The Cibao Valley and the nearby city of Santiago are the center of cigar production in the Dominican Republic. Three main varieties are grown here: the mild and native Olor Dominicano; the intense Piloto Cubano, brought from the Vuelta Abajo of Cuba; and San Vicente, a milder and more acidic Piloto hybrid. Dominican puros were once unheard of as it was widely thought impossible to grow quality wrapper leaf on the island, but new growing techniques are now allowing some exceptional puros to be produced.